Provo 'kings' lock horns

PROVO — An odd quirk in Provo's political genealogy is shaping an interesting new dynamic at City Hall as current Mayor Lewis Billings and former Mayor George Stewart learn to work together again, albeit in new roles.

King George — as Stewart was known while mayor — begat King Lewis. Stewart hired Billings, promoted him and then, after a single term, abdicated the powerful throne that is the mayor's position in Provo's form of government.

With Stewart gone, Billings has dominated city politics for eight years.

Now, the no-nonsense Stewart is back as chairman of the City Council. The two strong personalities recently squared off on several issues across multiple meetings, begging the question, "Is there room for two kings in this kingdom?"

The biggest tussle came during a rancorous discussion over iProvo, the city's ambitious $39.5 million project to provide high-speed Internet access, cable TV and Internet telephone service to residents by bringing fiber-optic cable to homes throughout the city. Billings has made a tremendous emotional and political investment in iProvo, and he carefully manages information about it.

Billings labeled as "fearmongers" the critics from Qwest Communications and the Utah Taxpayers Association who attended a City Council meeting to protest a $980,000 loan from the city's energy reserve fund to iProvo. City staff said the loan is necessary because despite 5,000 subscribers iProvo hasn't generated enough revenues to meet its first bond payment.

Stewart told Billings the label was inappropriate, saying questions about the project deserved real attention.

"We have to be very careful not to underestimate the issues we face," Stewart said. "I don't think we should hide our heads in the sand. Any time we have to take $1 million from the energy reserve fund and maybe $2 million next year, that's a problem, Lewis."

Then Stewart dropped a bombshell.

"Lewis, if I had been here two years ago, I would have opposed iProvo," Stewart said. "I've never wanted to say that."

Stewart called iProvo "wonderful" recently but said his experience in a similar business, wrecked when the tech-bubble burst, makes him a realist.

"I'm a supporter of iProvo," he said. "I use it and it works great, but that doesn't negate the fact it's a risky venture, which we've now seen given the fact we have to subsidize it. I think it's OK to hear both sides."